In this blog I will post results of a short environmental survey that I have sent to government officials, religious leaders, corporate CEOs, wildlife experts, and others. Click Here to take the survey

***DISCLAIMER- The views expressed in the surveys are personal views of the respondents, and are not to be taken as official statements.***

Thanks to my sister Michelle McIlroy for designing the logo!

Welcome!

Ever since I was a child, I have been very interested in nature and the environment. I have a B.S. degree in wildlife biology, and have worked as a zookeeper, wildlife biologist, and ecologist. I am conducting a brief survey of world leaders, government officials, religious leaders, corporate CEOs, environmental groups, wildlife experts, and others regarding nature and the environment. I am also very interested in religious views, customs, and beliefs from around the world, and the interactions between religion, culture, society, and the environment. This is something I am doing out of personal interest, and is not connected to any group or organization. I have been working on this project since the summer of 2006, and hope to eventually turn it into a book and/or documentary. I am hoping to make this into a global project, with responses from all segments of society. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or comments. If you have not already done so, I hope that you will consider taking part in my project, and please spread the word to anyone you think might be interested! Thanks for stopping by!

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

Several: Baby octopus got attached to my cheek at the age of 7 and initiated me into the underwater world of wonder; interacted in the Atlantic Ocean for a week with wild bottlenose dolphins and it blew all my senses and made me have a transcendental experience and a physical healing; swam with large wild turtles at Buck Island in the U.S.V.I.; went to school in the ruins of a cotton plantation at an experimental school called Tamarind, in the rainforest, waterfall instead of swimming pool, conch shell in place of a bell, vines to swing on instead of metal swing sets. My formative years were spent growing up wild - literally.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

The Baths in Virgin Gorda, B.V.I. and Fredericksted's local park with the large collection of Banyan trees that we could play in.

Now? Mesa Verde in Colorado, the Cliff face steps and paths and the large Gorge of Taos N.M.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

I have four; hummingbirds because they are a phenomena; dolphins due to their habitat and playful lifestyle; large cats because they are fiercely independent and the Praying Mantis (even though these are insects) as they are regal and they fascinate me.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

The sustainability of fresh water, clean breathable air, uncontaminated soil and the denial/lethargy that so many still suffer from - And in the future, the Sun's role in Earth's rise in temperature coupled with a slow response from decision makers in positions of power as to the need for immediate action in the areas we CAN make a difference in.

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Wake up, natural resources don't replenish themselves so do the research and BE the change.

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

Traveling to islands (WI, Mariana Is, Bermuda) and seeing how well intended government policy can screw up places rather quickly.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

Yes, outdoor sites in Maryland where most of the natural areas are now otherwise, and the state has not had good stewardship of its natural resource. Species I found a child later became listed as state endangered in the 70's, and with 3 decades of state stewardship many are now lost, and none are better off.

Now? Good question, at 65 all the places I knew are degraded and all the new ones I visit I can see indications as to their future.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

Some cornerstone species like gopher tortoise. It's presence a good index of specific communities and their burrows and mounds provide homes for many interesting animals. They are long lived, and are in direct and constant competition for man for real estate.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

“Eco” is a fashionable label and everybody uses it whenever possible and of course it is used most widely in Tourism. Who does not want to call his Hotel or Travel Agency “Eco-tourism”? It sounds so much better and people are so much more attracted by such a fashionable word.

However, reality shows that people prefer or are dragged by the Travel Agencies to the same old overcrowded mass tourist resorts equipped with state of the art bars, discos and other entertainment, which, of course, must be big, luxurious and expensive.

The true “Off the Beaten Track”, isolated lodges have a hard time to make ends meet. Travel Agencies do not want to expose their clients to a bad road or even risk being bitten by a mosquito or other possible inconveniences nature might surprise you. And, no doubt, they make a better deal by bringing people to more expensive luxury hotels than to the modestly priced Eco-Lodges.

Advertising Costa Rica, the official Tourist Board, came out with the nice slogan “without artificial ingredients”. However in their official annual MAGAZIN “NATURALLY COSTA RICA”, only the large chain luxury hotels can afford to advertise and are they not full of artificial ingredients? For the puff luxury decoration, radio, TV, VHS, Mini-Bar and so on., the price has to be $ 150.- plus.

The many ecological institutions who operate in Costa Rica contribute to this trend and channel the student groups to overcrowded places like Monteverde, Tortuguero, and Manuel Antonio and prefer places with paved trails through the Rain Forest like in “La Selva”, which is not the concept of ecotourism.

The big companies offer their employees Incentive Tours, but would not dream of choosing a true Ecolodge. Instead they send them to 5 star luxury Hotel with swimming pool, jaccussi, golf course and health spa, where they spend a lot of money and come back just as tired as when left the office. They still have not come up to the idea that sometimes the employees would rather prefer a quiet, unspoiled and natural retreat where they would regain time to gather strength and peace to their bodies and minds.

We believe that the true meaning of Eco-Tourism is to go back to nature, accept simplicity, and be content with a clean, simple, but comfortable room and facilities and accept for a while the inconveniences of a dirt road, a muddy trail through the lush Rain Forest and (why not?) some rain, too. As a reward you are overwhelmed by the beauty and exuberance of nature, instead of the noisy and overcrowded places one finds in every big cities. Something has to be done to re-orient tourists to the true eco-lodges to enjoy the wonders of nature and if the so-called Eco-Travel Agencies stick to their Logo, they should also include in their programs true eco-lodges in isolated areas.

We, owners of small Eco-lodges, do not want to deny the “eco-tourists” the right to spend their vacation in one of the many luxury hotels according to their means. But, if they really want to practice Eco-tourism, our suggestion is that they should at least spend a couple of nights in a true Eco-lodge in an isolated area and pay respect to Mother Nature.

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

My father was a boat builder, so frequently the family would go deep sea fishing. We would leave the harbor very early in the morning, bound for Catalina or San Clemente Island where the fishing would be excellent. As we traveled west toward the islands, the sun would rise in the east [the earth was turning, of course] and I would see night become day on a huge dome, much like being in the planetarium at the observatory.

I have a golden retriever and a husky. My interaction with them daily is through mental telepathy. They can read my mind.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

Any and every place outdoors was my favorite. I much preferred being outside. When I was in college at The Principia, I studied in wind caves on the bluffs of the Mississippi.

Now? I love La Ballona Wetlands. I also love my backyard with its orange and avocado trees.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

My favorite animal is the Arabian horse, though my experience with horses has been limited because I have allergies.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

I'm teaching third graders. The children I teach are not outside the way I was when I was their age. At recess, they eat and drink sugary drinks instead of playing sports. Instead of using nature in their play, they prefer electronic devices. They don't know nature is our source as well as being 'them!' They are disconnected from their source and themselves.

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Learn to live in nature as nature. Study the lives of indigenous peoples.

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About Me

I have a B.S. in Environmental & Forest Biology from SUNY ESF and an MBA in Sustainable Business from Marylhurst University. I have worked as a zookeeper (San Antonio Zoo & Disney's Animal Kingdom), wildlife biologist (Everglades Wildlife Management Area), staff ecologist (Audubon International) and Pet Care Manager (PetSmart) in the past, and am currently working as an environmental educator for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. I am also the editor of the NYS DEC publication Conservationist for Kids. I am particularly interested in birds, biodiversity conservation, environmental education, sacred sites, and sustainability.

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